Chapter 3 Additional World Health Assembly Nutrition Indicators
3.3 Prevalence of low birthweight
Low birthweight is defined by WHO as weight at birth of less than 2500 g (5.5 lbs.). This WHO global nutrition target refers to a 30 percent reduction in the number of infants born with a weight lower than 2500 g by 2025. It is a global public health problem with associated negative short- and long-term health consequences, including increased risk of mortality and NCDs in later life.
Comparing the latest data available with those collected in 2020 (Table 13), the region’s prevalence of low birthweight increased slightly from 17.6 percent in 2019 to 17.9 percent. Eastern Asia and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) showed similar slight increases. South-eastern Asia remained the same at 12.5 percent while Southern Asia declined slightly (Figure 22). It is important that all countries in the region achieve the WHA target, considering the negative consequences associated with low birthweight.
FIGURE 22.
Prevalence of low birthweight in Asia and the Pacific by subregion
Looking at the data disaggregated by country and subregion (Figure 23) in 2020, the highest prevalence of low birthweight is in India (Southern Asia), followed by Bangladesh and Nepal (also in Southern Asia). High prevalences were also observed in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Philippines, Timor-Leste and (Southeastern Asia) and Papua New Guinea in Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
Clearly, the region in general and the countries in particular are off track in terms of progress in achieving the WHO global nutrition target.
FIGURE 23.
Prevalence of low birthweight in Asia and the Pacific by country and subregion (2020)
